All Bryn Mawr teachers are fully-licensed in elementary education and/or their specialist area. We believe our own learning is just as important as our students' learning for continuous achievement. All staff set an annual personal goal and develop a Professional Development Plan (PDP) with specific action steps to guide their learning.
As part of both the Reading Excellence Award Grant and the Reading First Grant, our teachers have participated in additional Saturday training's and Summer Institutes through the University of Minnesota. The trainings focused on reading comprehension, vocabulary, fluency, word recognition, and phonemic awareness. Teachers meet biweekly in professional learning groups, where they review and discuss research-based reading strategies to use in their classrooms.
Our teachers have participated in staff development, targeting effective teaching strategies for students speaking English as a Second Language. In addition, Bryn Mawr received the Exemplary Staff Development grant. This grant was used to provide training in the Accelerated Reader and Math programs, and John Collins' Writing program.
Bryn Mawr teachers contribute to the development of aspiring teachers, as well. Many of our talented teachers have supervised and coached student teachers from the University of Minnesota, Hamline University, St. Cloud State University, St. Thomas University, and Augsburg College.
High Standards for all students. It is our job to help prepare students to be lifelong learners through academic achievement and the acquisition of lifelong skills.
Cultural Diversity. We recognize and celebrate our differences, and know that we are enriched by them. We believe that understanding each other is the antidote to fear and prejudice. We create an environment that is inclusive, affirming, and respectful of everyone. As our students share differences in their cultures and language, they will begin to grow in understanding themselves and others.
Purposeful Learning as an Interactive Process. Students will interact with others in a variety of ways, such as questioning, reflecting, and connecting personal experiences with new information. Teaching strategies help students become both independent and cooperative learners who develop the skills of problem-solving, decision-making, negotiation, and conflict resolution.
Student-Centered Learning. Students are at the heart of our work. They give our work its purpose. We listen, respond and adapt to the needs of students. We recognize that students have different learning styles. We strive to structure our curriculum to be developmentally appropriate, and we recognize that students’ needs change at an individual rate.
Diverse and Integrated Learning. Students must be actively involved in the learning process. Learning materials will incorporate a mix of written matter, "hands-on" artifacts, audiovisual materials, and computer technology. Learning experiences will incorporate a mix of direct teaching/large group learning, teacher-led small group learning, cooperative learning, independent practice, and real-life experiences. Through the use of integrated themes, students will be able to see the interrelationships among different areas of learning.